Advertising

A bachelor of arts degree in advertising from the Greenlee School prepares you for a career in business and industry or for graduate education. You’ll find career opportunities in professions requiring applied communication expertise. Upon graduation, you’ll be qualified for positions in the creative and account sides of advertising within businesses, agencies and media. Coursework in this major focuses on writing, research, digital and emerging media and professional abilities. You are required to complete a capstone internship experience to practice and refine your skills.

Greenlee School advertising students have interned at Flynn Wright, MARC USA, Hearst Digital, Gannett Digital, Leo Burnett Worldwide and many other agencies, businesses and media outlets.

General requirements

To receive a bachelor of arts degree in advertising, a student must earn at least 120 credits. These include general education course requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). A minimum of 72 credits must come from courses other than ADVRT, JLMC or PR. At least 50 of these credits must come from the liberal arts and sciences. Overall, at least 45 credits must be from 3000-level courses or above.

Every student in the Greenlee School must complete a professional internship prior to graduation.

Concurrent degree program

Juniors can apply to and earn a B.A. in advertising and an M.S. in journalism and mass communication in fewer semesters. Contact the Director of Graduate Education for more information on the Greenlee School’s 4+1 Program.

Undergraduate minor

Minors in the Greenlee School are only available to students not seeking a primary degree in the school.  A minor in advertising is available to students throughout the university. For the advertising minor, students complete 15 credits. This must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. More information is available in the ISU Catalog.

Experiences

Students at Iowa State University can tailor their experience to make sure they gain valuable skills for the future.

A wide variety of student organizations and clubs are available for students to join—including academic, honor societies, political & activism, intramural sports and Greek life. The Greenlee School in particular offers many student media clubs and opportunities for students to become involved in both for fun and to add to their professional portfolios.

Gain leadership and service experience through the Student Activities Center, go to one of the many fun campus events like the Cyclone Carnival, or learn more about clubs and activities at the annual ClubFest to see the many ways you can get involved during your time at Iowa State.

Your future in the making

Students who major in advertising unlock a variety career opportunities across various categories. You can combine the art of persuasion and the power of creative messaging to promote products, services, and brands while driving organizational success. Adding a strong foundation in market research, consumer behavior, and creative strategy, our graduates are well-prepared to excel in roles that shape public perception and engagement. Here are just some examples of the careers you can pursue with a degree in advertising:

• Advertising account executive
• Creative director
• Media planner
• Brand strategist
• Copywriter
• Digital marketing specialist
• Art director
• Social media coordinator
• and more!

Get to know the LAS career services team to help you explore the many career opportunities a degree in advertising can open for you.